2-Component crosslink of end-functionalized polyacrylates

1. A process for increasing the molecular weight of polyacrylates, wherein polyacrylates functionalized at least on some of their chain ends by functional groups X are prepared by the RAFT process using thiocarbonates selected from the group consisting of

wherein Φ represents a phenyl ring, which is unfunctionalized or functionalized by alkyl or aryl substituents linked directly or via ester or ether bridges, or represents a cyano group and k represents C 1 to C 18 alkyl, C 2 to C 18 alkenyl, C 2 to C 18 alkynyl, in each case linear or branched; aryl, phenyl, benzyl, aliphatic or aromatic heterocycle and optionally contains one or more groups selected from the group consisting of —NH 2 , —NH—R VI , —NR VI R VII , —NH—C(O)—R VI , —NR VI —C(O)—R VII , —NH—C(S)—R VI , —NR VI —C(S)—R VII ,

where R VI and R VII are C 1 to C 18 alkyl, C 2 to C 18 alkenyl, C 2 to C 18 alkynyl, in each case linear or branched; aryl, phenyl, benzyl, aliphatic or aromatic heterocycles, and are independent of one another or the same,

and are then reacted with at least one compound containing at least two functional groups Y capable of entering into linking reactions, in the form of addition reactions, with the functional groups X.

2. A process for increasing the molecular weight of polyacrylates, wherein polyacrylates functionalized at least on some of their chain ends by functional groups X are prepared by the RAFT process using thiocarbonates selected from the group consisting of

wherein Φ represents a phenyl ring, which is unfunctionalized or functionalized by alkyl or aryl substituents linked directly or via ester or ether bridges, or represents a cyano group and k represents C 1 to C 18 alkyl, C 2 to C 18 alkenyl, C 2 to C 18 alkynyl, in each case linear or branched; aryl, phenyl, benzyl, aliphatic or aromatic heterocycle and optionally contains one or more groups selected from the group consisting of —NH 2 , —NH—R VI , —NR VI R VII , —NH—C(O)—R VI , —NR VI —C(O)—R VII , —NH—C(S)—R VI , —NR VI —C(S)—R VII ,

where R VI and R VII are C 1 to C 18 alkyl, C 2 to C 18 alkenyl, C 2 to C 18 alkynyl, in each case linear or branched; aryl, phenyl, benzyl, aliphatic or aromatic heterocycles, and are independent of one another or the same,

and are then reacted with at least one compound containing at least two functional groups Y capable of entering into linking reactions, in the form of substitution reactions, with the functional groups X.

3. A process for increasing the molecular weight of polyacrylates, wherein polyacrylates functionalized at least on some of their chain ends by functional groups X are prepared by the RAFT process using thiocarbonates selected from the group consisting of

wherein Φ represents a phenyl ring, which is unfunctionalized or functionalized by alkyl or aryl substituents linked directly or via ester or ether bridges, or represents a cyano group and k represents C 1 to C 18 alkyl, C 2 to C 18 alkenyl, C 2 to C 18 alkynyl, in each case linear or branched; aryl, phenyl, benzyl, aliphatic or aromatic heterocycle and optionally contains one or more groups selected from the group consisting of —NH 2 , —NH—R VI , —NR VI R VII , —NH—C(O)—R VI , —NR VI —C(O)—R VII , —NH—C(S)—R VI , —NR VI —C(S)—R VII ,

where R VI and R VII are C 1 to C 18 alkyl, C 2 to C 18 alkenyl, C 2 to C 18 alkynyl, in each case linear or branched; aryl, phenyl, benzyl, aliphatic or aromatic heterocycles, and are independent of one another or the same,

and are then reacted with at least one compound containing at least two functional groups Y capable of bonding the polyacrylates using the functional groups X.

4. A process as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3 , wherein the polyacrylates functionalized with the functional groups X have an average molecular weight (number average) M n in the range from 2000 g/mol to 1 000 000 g/mol.

5. A process as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3 , wherein the increase in the molecular weight is achieved by a crosslinking of the polyacrylate.

6. A process as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3 , wherein the linking reactions proceed to link the polyacrylates containing the functional groups X and the compounds containing the functional groups Y linearly to one another.

7. A process as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3 , wherein the polyacrylates containing functional groups X contain at least one chain branch.

8. A process as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the polyacrylates contain at least three functional groups X.